IMPERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 11

IMPERIAL.

The Navy's sea power lias again bulked, largely in the public mind during _B? &--&?*_% asr_ , fc. , sSf.J^ra was in port Major Silburn moved 'That the Government immediately submit proposals providing for am annual .contribution to the British navy commensurate with the Union's importance. The Prime Minister (Mr. Botha) proposed as an amendment, '- That tne House recognises the importanceof, a full consideration of.the, questaqn of naval defence, and requests the Government to consult the Motherland on the subject." This amendment was accepted by the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Thomas Smaxtt, and, after a debate extending over a couple of. days, y* 5 adopted without amendment. The New Zealand is now on her way to Durban. In Canada Mr Borden's proposal to make a gift of three battleships to the Imperial navy met with very determined opposition, the Liberals keeping up a stonewall with the object of forcing an appeal to the country. The latest phase of the debate is recorded on page 5.

The reported visits of airships to various parts of Britain by night are now being inquired into by the Government. The Home Office has defined eight landing areas for the use of foreign airships, including Brighton, Margate, and The Wash. The authorities do not allow air craft .to carry guns, and require that two days' notice shall be given to a British Consul anil 18 hours' notice to the Home Office before the arrival of a foreign airship. The Home Office prescribes smoke, shell, and red rockets as the. signals notifying aviators that they are over prohibited territory. On these signals being given and disregarded, airmen ate. liable to be fired at.

The suffragettes have continued their campaign of militancy, but have not had matters all their own way,, and some noisy counter-demonstrations have been made against their methods of propaganda. .". '

The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Turakina caught fire in' Rid de Janeiro. The fire originated ha the cross bunker below No. 3 hold, and spread so rapidly that the vessel had to be beached. The fire was then extingukhed.